Racing

2018 Tennessee Knockout, Part Deux

A look back at the TKO

August 25, 2018

After three knockout rounds, plus a 30-minute final, Red Bull KTM’s Cody Webb emerged victorious for the sixth straight time at the Tennessee Knockout in Sequatchie, Tennessee. In the process, Webb beat out Manuel Lettenbichler of Germany, Mario Roman of Spain, and Wade Young of South Africa. Here’s one last look at the Tennessee Knockout.

Despite breaking his foot during the prologue at the Erzberg Rodeo, Cody Webb managed to push through the pain and deal with the limited preparation leading up to the TKO. “I was definitely worried, especially with all the competition coming over from Europe,” Webb said. “Some of Hard Enduro’s biggest hitters came over here and I had eight weeks of couch surfing and only eight days on the bike since my injury, so I was happy to get another win. I kind of conserved some energy in those early races and I think that helped me for the main, but I still felt like I was going to die out there.”Shan Moore

Mario Roman finished third at the TKO for the second consecutive year. “I came here with more preparation because last year I suffered a lot, so I prepared more for the short, sprint main event,” Roman said. “I have to thank Sherco USA and the friends I met last year for helping me for this event.”Shan Moore

Josh Toth dropped out of the race after Knockout Race 1 due to an illness. The FMF KTM factory rider was eighth fastest in the hot lap and 11th in Knockout Race 1.Shan Moore

Team SRT Husqvarna-backed Trystan Hart had a pretty quiet day to finish sixth in his first-ever TKO.Shan Moore

Manni Lettenbichler was hot off of podium finishes at Erzberg and Romaniacs, and he turned that into momentum for his first TKO visit. “It was a nice event, I really enjoyed it. The main event was super gnarly with the slippery rocks and humidity; it is not like this in Germany,” Lettenbichler said. “I am super proud of second place and I passed Mario a few laps from the end, so I am stoked about that.”Shan Moore

Benjamin Herrera Ried, from Chile, finished 11th on a Beta.Shan Moore

Trail Jester’s/KTM Racing’s Ben Kelley finished ninth in the final Knockout. In Knockout Race 1, Kelley finished 10th to transfer into Knockout Race 2, where he earned a 13th place transfer position into the final.Shan Moore

Tennessee’s Jordan Ashburn finished eighth on his Beta after struggling with thrown chains. “The TKO didn’t start off as planned,” Ashburn said. “I hit a rock, derailing my chain, during the hot lap for qualifying. Forcing me to have to remove the swingarm to recover it.”Shan Moore

Colton Haaker finished fifth on his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna.Shan Moore

Mario Roman shows style while exiting the tricky waterfall section during the final.Shan Moore